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GCC North Campus History & Design

Glendale Community College North (GCC North) is an extension of Glendale Community College at Happy Valley Road between 57th and 61st Avenues. Since opening in Fall 2000, GCC North has served the higher educational needs of the Northwest Valley.

Providing the full resources available at Main campus, GCC North programs include general education, university transfer courses and workforce development opportunities.

Architectural Design

Across 28 acres, GCC North campus includes 87,000 square feet of single-story classrooms and administrative areas. The four newest buildings, opened in Fall 2008, joined the existing A Complex to blend neighboring architecture and desert landscaping to make the campus an attractive addition to the community.

The one-story modular buildings have a stucco exterior that is compatible with the exterior finishes of the surrounding community. The additional buildings that were added in Fall 2008 were also confined to one-story and designed to integrate well with the natural landscape. The heating and cooling towers, access roads and parking lot are located a sufficient distance from the residents to prevent excessive noise; lighting is reduced after 10:00 p.m.; pre-existing and added landscape provide a pleasant desert adapted buffer around the campus.

One of the major premises in planning for GCC North is maintaining a "Good Neighbor" policy, relating to physical facilities and curriculum. Planning has been going on since 1996 with community input at all phases. Extensive community suggestions have been incorporated into the planning of the new site, particularly with regard to noise, appearance, lighting, landscaping, location of transportation access and parking lots.

History of GCC North

In 1994, $2 million from Maricopa Community Colleges Capital Development Bond was allocated to be used to provide initial site development such as sewer, water, electricity, and parking for the 20,000 square foot campus. In 2004, $25 million from Maricopa Community Colleges Capital Development Bond was allocated to be used to expand and create a master plan for the GCC North site. Fall 2008, phase one of the GCC North Master Plan opened adding 67,000 square feet of new facilities and services.

75 acre site at 57th Avenue and Happy Valley Road purchased with monies approved in the 1984 Maricopa Community Colleges Capital Development Plan.